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Saturday, 14 June 2025

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Our History

Old dogs and good mates

It is the night of January 15. More correctly, it is 30 minutes into January 16, and I am sitting on the roofed deck at the back of my house listening to the grumbling thunder, enjoying the lightning and enjoying even more the sound of the occasion...

Snapshot of the past

A sketch by early Drouin South settler Franklin Jackson of his property “Ferntree” on Weebar Rd, dated 1876. Franklin Jackson arrived at Drouin South in 1874, leaving a selection at Nar Nar Goon. An extract from “Buln Buln” by Graeme Butler tells of...

Noojee rail - an engineering classic

The railway from Neerim South to Noojee swoops and soars through some of Victoria’s most attractive scenery. Yes, I know that should be in the past tense, but I’m ever the optimist. Unfortunately, burned-out trestle bridges no longer safely spanning...

Snapshot of the past

A photograph capturing Main St in Drouin, including the brick building of Henry Pease and Sons on the corner of Hope St, c1917. Henry Pease purchased the business from J. G. Hearn in 1906 and leased part of the premises from him. Mr A. Wehsek, who...

O’Marney, The Pied Piper of Hallora

The first settlers of the Hallora area were typical of the many families in Victoria which joined the “Land Rush” of the 1870s. From Clunes there were the Hickmans, the Aikmans and the Brocks. The Simpsons and the Hallyburton brothers came from...

Snapshot of the past

A photograph of Mounted Constable James Wellwood of Drouin c1900. James Wellwood was born in Fitzroy in 1864 and joined the Victoria Police force on March 8, 1887. Constable Wellwood worked in Fitzroy for three years before being transferred to Ben...

Snapshot of the past

A photograph of the original Warragul Exhibition Hall in Howitt St c1960. Following on from its early history as Dan Moore’s garage, detailed in last week’s Gazette, plans for an exhibition shed of 120 feet by 45 feet were submitted to the Rural City...

Inflation was no problem for pioneers

Inflation of our currency does not mean quite the same thing as blowing it up, though the effects might seem similar, and we are told now that inflation is simply the process by which our money becomes worth less every year, and that isn’t news to...

Mirboo railway the “kiss of life”

The Mirboo district was thrown open for selection in 1878, about four years after settlers began looking for land in the hills south of Morwell. The task they faced was a daunting one. Some of the settlers came up from the Port Albert district...

Snapshot of the past

A photograph of Dan Moore’s garage on South Rd, Warragul c1919. The garage was located at the current site of the Warragul Exhibition Hall on what is now known as Howitt St. With the Warragul Exhibition Hall set to be demolished due to structural...

Point Nepean a gateway to history

It is totally fitting that Point Nepean is a giant park open to the public because there is possibly no other part of Victoria with such historical significance. The stunted ti-trees and the sand dunes, the broad shallows and the low cliffs, have...

Snapshot of the past - Warragul’s railway bridge collapse

A photograph of repairmen swinging into action after the railway bridge in Warragul collapsed on May 8, 1962.A 14-metre section of the bridge collapsed with a dramatic roar shortly after 3.30pm on a Wednesday afternoon.“There was a terrific bang...

Alan and the Rodeo

In last week’s column I told you a little of the story of Alan Light, once from Yallock and now retired in Drouin. I told you of his lifelong love for Beth, and hers for him, but Alan had at least one other great love. Beth might be the love of his...

Snapshot of the past

A photograph of Prime Minister Bob Hawke being interviewed by the media, including Warragul Gazette journalist Carolyn Turner on the right, during a visit to Warragul in the 1980s. Ms Turner, who went on to be a long-serving editor, recalls Mr Hawke...

Alan Light and his family

Noradjuha had a fair number of Lights living in the area, including George and Minnie, who were born there. Noradjuha is about 25 dry kilometres from Horsham and 10 even drier kilometres from Natimuk. Two of the Lights decided to move from Victoria’s...

Local losses in Australia’s greatest naval tragedy

Australia’s greatest naval tragedy, the sinking of HMAS Sydney during World War II when all 645 crew were lost, was particularly felt in the Warragul district with three young local men among those lost. They were Cyril Nugent, son of Mr and Mrs J...

Snapshot of the past - Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser in Warragul

A photograph of Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser meeting a group of anti-dam protestors in Warragul in 1983. The Prime Minister spoke with a group of about 20 protestors holding “No Dams” signage for several minutes whilst visiting the town on February...

Coastal villages of Westernport

Warneet is one the “five Coastal Villages” on the northwest coast of Westernport. The others are Tooradin, Cannon’s Creek, Blind Bight, Dalmore and Tooradin North. Yes, I know that is six, not five. I’m not at all sure that Tooradin North should be...

Snapshot of the past: Gough Whitlam visits

A photograph of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam after attending Farm World on February 26, 1974. The Labor leader is captured at a civic reception in Warragul flanked by Warragul Shire president Cr Neville Cottrell (left) and Cr Max McCarthy. Mr Whitlam...